Color

When thinking about color, it is good to consider various options.  Some considerations are below:

Red

• has been proven to increase heart rate, respiration, and even aggression
• can also increase appetite
• painting the whole room with such a shocking shade can be overwhelming
• some individuals with autism avoid the color red, it it too intense
• in bedrooms, red can be too stimulating

Orange

• an energetic, warm color
• choice for rooms that need to be playful but sophisticated
• gender neutral

Yellow

• can actually strain the eyes 
• people tend to lose their tempers more in yellow rooms, and babies exposed to lots of yellow cry more 
• can increase concentration and boost energy
• pairing it with cooler, more restful colors (like blue, green, or purple) can minimize negative effects and still let you enjoy its warmth

Green

• cool, restful, and easy on the eyes
• May help people relax
• works well with most colors
• be cautious of brighter hues such as lime green

 Blue

• a very calming, restful color
• very cool  
• increases productivity
• increases feelings of trust and loyalty
• dampens the appetite
• the wrong shade (too dark) can also contribute to feelings of sadness 

Purple

• promotes rest and productivity
• a purple room will feel warmer than a blue room will at the same temperature
• a favorite choice of creative people

Pink

• exposure to pink initially promotes a calming effect
• but can eventually increase feelings of stress and anger, according to prison studies
• say pink makes some people feel happy

Brown

• brown rooms can have a sedating effect or an energizing one, depending on the accent colors 
• dark shades can make a room look more intimate and cozy, while soft beige will "open up" a small space
• popular combinations now are chocolate brown with pink, soft turquoise, or mint green
• use it in the bedroom to create a cozy, restful space.

White

• makes a room feel refreshing and pristine
• white ceilings give the illusion of height
• too much white, however, can make a room look boring, or worse, cold and sterile
• Offset this effect by choosing off-white instead of a true, blinding white, and add some color

 Black

• black rooms tend to appear oppressive 
• Spending time in an all-black interior creates feelings of fear, desperation, and agitation
• difficult to paint over
• best used as an accent color
• good choice for furniture, accessories, and stenciling 

Gray

• neutral color
• deep shades like charcoal can have the same oppressive effects as black 
• lighter shades are more forgiving. 

Other

• if you can, try to keep the environment orderly, calm, and monochromatic
• be wary of high contrast color options and patterns
• some individuals with autism may see colors with greater intensity than those without autism

The Color Wheel:

 Example 1

 Example 2 

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